Eastern Conference Pre-season Predictions.

This is how the Eastern Conference should look come playoff time, assuming that nobody important is out the whole season. Only the top 10 will be ranked, as figuring out which bad teams are going to be more awful than the rest is impossible, and rather pointless.

1.      The Heat: They won it all last year, and only got better with the addition of 3-pointer shooters Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Enough said.

2.     The Pacers: While the Ian Mahimi trade was rather odd, they stay ahead of the Celtics, who once again look really freaking old, but will still probably keep it together for another run.

3.     The Celtics: They could make a run at the second seed if their rookies Sullinger and Melo play well.

4.     The Nets: While it is doubtful they will be contending for a ring, they should be able to snag home-court in round one. Don't be surprised if this team slides up or down a slot or two though, nobody knows how this team will look on the court.

5.     The 76ers: Assuming Bynum keeps is head on right (a big if), the 76ers got better. While they definitely came out on top this off-season, the loses of Iggy and Brandt hurt. If Bynum plays well they have the 2nd best center in the league to go with a still young and quick back court.

6.     The Hawks: They lost Joe Johnson (and his massive contract), but they added Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, and will have Horford back, which more than makes up for the loss. 

7.     The Knicks: This collection of dysfunctional talent just got older and slower from last year’s version, not exactly a recipe for drastic improvement.

8.     The Bulls: The loss of , Korver, Asik, Watson, JL3, and Brewer are not made up for by the addition of Hinrich and the others, not to mention Rose being out. Deng's wrist and Noah's ankle are also worrisome and could send the Bulls to lottery land. Although lottery land is not exactly a bad thing when you have D-Rose coming back next  season.

9.     The Bucks: While a gutless (defensive) team, Ellis and Jennings can score, so the Bucks will once again be fighting for the 8th seed.

10. The Cavaliers: Kyrie is looking like the real deal, and this team is youthful and talented enough to make a run at the 8th seed.